That, as much as anything, explains the Missouri coaching staff’s decision to anoint Printz, a redshirt freshman quarterback from Marietta, Ga., as Maty Mauk’s backup over junior Corbin Berkstresser.

“Corbin and Eddie were very competitive,” Tigers coach Gary Pinkel said. “It was very competitive throughout the entire summer. There’s a point the last three or four practices and last scrimmage where Eddie played a little better. Ultimately, you base it over everything. They were very close, but we made the decision to go that way.”

Associate head coach/quarterbacks coach Andy Hill said Printz leveled out, becoming more consistent in the week.

During the past several seasons, Pinkel has tried to carve out a drive or two for the backup quarterback. He did it for Chase Daniel, Blaine Gabbert, James Franklin, and last season for Maty Mauk.

However, no decision has been made relative to Printz for 2014.

“We haven’t decided that until Thursday,” Pinkel said. “Most likely, a redshirt freshman like Eddie right now, chances are I don’t think we’ll rotate him earlier. We’ll discuss it Thursday as a staff. It remains to be seen. It’d be nice to get him in a game and let him play, but we’ll see what happens.”

Read Next

This Bill Self-coached Kansas Jayhawks basketball team shouldn’t just improve in one area defensively during the 2018-19 college basketball season; instead, it probably should be the best defensive rebounding team Self has ever had.